A few days ago, I had an interesting conversation with Sven Groeneveld, who heads up the novel and productive Adidas group coaching effort. Sven has coached an impressive list of outstanding players, including Mary Pierce, Michael Stich, Nathalie Dechy, Greg Rusedski, Fernando Verdasco and, most recently, Ana Ivanovic. BTW, Ana is back with the Adidas program after a patchy experience with Craig Kardon (formerly Martina Navratilova's coach). And Darren Cahill has joined Gil Reyes, that other member of team Agassi, on the Adidas coaching roster. Those are Cahill, Reyes and Groeneveld (L to R) in this photo.

It turns out that Sven and our mutual friend, tennis insider Lisa Sommermeier, had both read the on-again, off-again series I started on coaching (it makes me think I ought to continue it), in which I wondered why tennis coaches - who run the gamut from manipulative opportunists with precious little to offer to distinguished Grand Slam enablers - didn't have some kind of official organization, or registry. I can think of a dozen ways in which an official organization, like the players, tournaments, umpires, and even press already has (and let's not forget that strong organization of teaching pros, the USPTR), would be a welcome addition to the growing infrastructure of our sport.

It turns out that Sven had been thinking along the same lines, and he already has an interactive website that functions as a virtual employment agency for coaches. It's called Orangecoach.com. The big news Sven wanted to share with me is that this is merely Stage 1 of a 2 stage effort - the second part will consist of creating a formal organization or registry of coaches. It will not only help coaches and players find each other, but also give coaches, those lone operators, an organization that will set guidelines, create opportunities (like sponsorship deals), and give coaches the backing of the same kind of official, institutional voice that others can fall back on in times of need.

To pick a simple example, right now any charge of inappropriate behavior of any kind against a coach is simply a "he said, she/he said" affair, and who would want to be the coach in that scenario - especially if it were one of the all too common partnerships of a young female player and an older male coach? Moreover, the WTA commitment to on-court coaching means that coaches could potentially supplement their income with sponsorship deals on a less haphazard basis. "I was never for the on-court coaching experiment," Sven told me. "But it's here and there's no reason not to take advantage of it."

Largely, though, Sven sees "job security" as the most critical issue for coaches. He points out that coaches come and go randomly, usually at the mercy of the players for whom they work. When that player retires, or moves on, the coach is back at Square One. He or she has no real way beyond networking and personal salesmanship of staying in the game. "Not too many coaches stay in the game for more than five years," Sven said. "I want to try to find a way to enable legitimate coaches to stay in the game. For example, if the player I've coached for three years decides to move on, right now I don't even have access to my workplace - the tournaments. If we had a certification process, the members of our registry could stay in the game and enjoy the same benefits as other tennis professionals."

A registry would also enable the organization to police its membership and even institutionalize the background checks that are a reasonable burden. Sven objected to the heavy-handed way the official game instituted its intrusive background checks in a panicked response to abuse and gambling scandals, but has no problem with the basic concept. "It would be part of a general certification process that would take place in stages," Sven said. "People would know what the system expects and get comfortable with it."

Sven also noted that academies, representation firms, and even manufacturers (like Adidas) have increasingly close ties to coaches, and use them in increasingly inventive and diverse wasy (as scouts, for example). The coaches need to be better informed on everything from the available opportunities to the general task-by-task pay scale.

I think this plan will work, partly because sponsors already have greater grasp of inventive ways to use coaches. The coaches are not only vital to the players on-court success, they're an increasingly significant go-between with other wings of the game, like the media. And a coach is a pipeline to a player. I've learned over time that if you have a good relationship with a player's coach, you're more likely to develop the same with a player.

greenhopper - I was so confused as to why my screen went from the end of the second set to 3-all in the third. Thanks for the information. geez NBC!

Posted by Rosangel

07/04/2009 at 01:02 PM

"Anyone but England" was a joke. Badly timed, badly chosen, but nonetheless a joke. So definitely not worth resurrecting.

Posted by Pspace

07/04/2009 at 01:02 PM

"""
I disagree with this idea that a player 'deserves' a championship. Whoever wins deserves it. Fed didn't deserve RG, he earned it - he won it.
"""

CL, of course. Rog is not going to give it to Randy. If he wins, he'll deserve it....which will make it mean so much.

Posted by juel

07/04/2009 at 01:03 PM

I think Venus is having knee problems, its evident in her movements..................

Posted by avid sports fan aka "Sigh-Rena"

07/04/2009 at 01:03 PM

Anyways I have to go get ready to head out now.

Go Williams Alliance please win one for Vee!

Posted by NP

07/04/2009 at 01:04 PM

Haha, ESPN just showed the '08 Wimby final along with the '00 Bush win in a recount and--what else--last year's hot dog contest between C. and K.

Posted by olive

07/04/2009 at 01:04 PM

avid sports fan aka "Sigh-Rena",

giving a reason is always interpreted as giving an excuse, which is kind of sad.

too true...

Posted by NP

07/04/2009 at 01:05 PM

Obviously ESPN was showing a list of the GMOATs (greatest matches of all time).

Posted by Nic

07/04/2009 at 01:09 PM

CL - I'm not keen to sit back and let no 15 come when it might. I still remember wondering if no 13 would come, or whether it would be a good spell of 3 or 4 years before things came together for just one or two more. Fortunes change quickly.

I would love to see RAndy get his 'one more' but with my list of favourites, Fed trumps all.

(oh and Christopher is as keen as you, so you're not alone)

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:12 PM

I doubt the Bryans will go after Nenad the way Blake and Fish did, after that unfortunate put away hit Bob on his back.

Posted by Codge

07/04/2009 at 01:13 PM

Slept thru the ladies finals...bummer :-(

Posted by Pspace

07/04/2009 at 01:16 PM

Interesting comments from Venus:

"""
Q. There wasn't a lot separating you. You haven't had too much time to reflect on the match. One of your strengths is really moving in on this surface. Do you think you were a little bit too passive at points in the match, or she prevented you from really being as aggressive as you might have been?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I definitely would have liked to have moved forward. A lot of times when I had the short balls, they were low. They're really low, and it's hard to come in on those and actually hit an effective shot and come in.

Possibly if I slice, but I'm not necessarily a slicer. I just slice when I have to, not because I want to.

.........

Q. You say you're not a slicer. Do you think that might be a useful addition to your arsenal?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. In fact, I know how to slice very well actually. I have a great slice. I just ‑‑ I don't know. I'm a shover. Some people push, but I shove. That's my mentality. I have to just hit, and I can't help it. It's just hard to change my mind.

So will I slice one day? Probably. But if I have a chance to hit it or slice it, I'm gonna hit it.
""""

Jajaja...oh this part:

"""
Some people push, but I shove. That's my mentality. I have to just hit, and I can't help it.
"""

I feel you V...as a shover myself

Posted by Arun

07/04/2009 at 01:20 PM

another great point!

Posted by Arun

07/04/2009 at 01:21 PM

and another Tiebreak.. no breaks of serve so far!!

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:21 PM

Animal scream after that softest touch fh volley from Zimo.
Mini-break up with Daniel to serve.

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:22 PM

Awesome high back hand volley. 3-0.

Posted by Mike

07/04/2009 at 01:23 PM

Although I'm psyched about tomorrow's match, I'm really looking forward to the USO ... it's been said that Rafa should be 100% and warmed up by then, and I need to see Fed and Rafa ... both in good shape, both with no excuses ... in a GS Final (as long as MAndy, RAndy, Nole, etc. doesn't throw a monkey wrench into the mix .. ;)

Grapple in the Apple 09!

Posted by Arun

07/04/2009 at 01:23 PM

oh no. another superb dubs point. N/Z lead 3-0.

Posted by just a note

07/04/2009 at 01:25 PM

My NBC coverage ends at 2pm on the East Coast. I really want to see the end of this match so if it goes to 5 (or if it runs past 2pm) does anyone think NBC will stay with it? Thanks.

I will be rooting for Roddick tomorrow, even knowing how impossible a task it seems (to me anyway) but at the same time I really can't wait for Roger to surpass Pete Sampras! (sometimes reading the comments on here you'd think he is still active) ;)

Posted by NP

07/04/2009 at 01:26 PM

Fudge. So the Bryans lost the 3rd set. 4th of July, indeed. Fudge!

Posted by Arun

07/04/2009 at 01:26 PM

sensational TB by N/Z. I want a 5 setter though.

Posted by Pspace

07/04/2009 at 01:27 PM

And, Nestor-Zim take the second set TB. Btw, why does the lefty Bryan bro return from deuce court? Not that his fh is that good...but they picked his bh a couple of times. Nestor returns from ad side and hit a nice winner to get the double mini-break.

Posted by Pspace

07/04/2009 at 01:29 PM

oops i meant second TB...in the third set ;-)

Posted by olive

07/04/2009 at 01:29 PM

just a note -if you have a high speed connection, turn on the computer and go to the tennis lover's life boat: http://atdhe.net/.

Posted by just a note

07/04/2009 at 01:30 PM

"I will be rooting for Roddick tomorrow, even knowing how impossible a task it seems (to me anyway) but at the same time I really can't wait for Roger to surpass Pete Sampras! (sometimes reading the comments on here you'd think he is still active) ;)"

+1!!

Also wanted to say (yesterday?) loved your "blame-storming" reference Tfactor and I'm sorry the meeting was so difficult.;)

Pspace, they were changing things up in the 3rd set TB, Bob (lefty) wanted to serve first as he's the stronger server.

Posted by Ruth

07/04/2009 at 01:34 PM

Hey, Matt...won't lie to you, when the team I'm rooting for loses one of the first 3 sets of these interminable 3/5's, I say, well, I hate the 3/5's, but I'm glad my team can take advantage of the chance to, maybe, conme from behind and win. :)

I'm following the scoreboard and the delayed NBC broadcast. Weird.

The longer men's match is, at least, giving Venus more time to rest her knee and get it looked at.

I'm also glad there's no Fed Cup right after Wimby as there was a few years ago after the Davenport final. Just rest and fun playing WTT for the Philadelphia Freedoms for Vee!!!

Posted by Tfactor

07/04/2009 at 01:34 PM

Thanks Jan ;)
Things are really slow where I am and we're just trying hard to avoid having to lay off staff.

C'mon guys, I really want a double, double championship of American siblings, but it seems to be going downhill now :(

'hopper, oh...so in the TB, the first server has to return from deuce side? Didn't know that. Strange decision...I mean, he may be the better server, but he has to serve to the worse side for the lefty... *shrug*

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:35 PM

sometimes reading the comments on here you'd think he is still active ;)

I blame NP for this. As if he wasn't getting bashed enough. Thanks much "Sampras KAD".

What do you we have here? a break of serve! :)
sensational returns all around. Don't you get broken here Daniel.

Posted by Fot

07/04/2009 at 01:35 PM

Well Congrats to Serena for winning today. I was in a win-win situation as Venus and Serena are my 2 favorite WTA players.

I'm also glad to see Roddick back in a grand slam but I'm 100% behind Federer tomorrow, the next tournament, the tournaments after that....anyway, anytime. I've read some comments from Federer fans that they wouldn't mind Roddick winning tomorrow. Heck, I would. I'm a Federer fan through and through. 100% and I can never root for anyone other than him to win. So with that - Go Roger!!!!!!!

Posted by Sherlock

07/04/2009 at 01:37 PM

"If it were one player regardless of surface or event, Steffi Graf without a second thought."

I can't think of a surface where I wouldn't take Steffi.

Ahem. :)

Posted by Tfactor

07/04/2009 at 01:38 PM

Oh no :( great opportunity to get back on serve gone!

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:39 PM

BJK in the house!

Posted by Arun

07/04/2009 at 01:39 PM

Bryans can't take either of the break point chances.

Posted by NP

07/04/2009 at 01:40 PM

gh, you can blame imjimmy. Before he came along I was the only Sampras KAD standing.

Posted by CL

07/04/2009 at 01:40 PM

Thanks Nic and FoT - and the other thing to keep in mind, as Rafa fans, and even Muzzah fans have pointed out: You really DON'T know how many more opportunities await. Injury, illness or a bad match at a bad time can strew an awful lot of boulders on the career GS road. So, GO FED!!!

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:40 PM

Very soft bh volley followed by a gorgeous high bh volley from Bob. 30-0. The first kind of soft touch point I've seen from the Bryans this match.

Posted by Pspace

07/04/2009 at 01:41 PM

Actually, the Bob is still returning from deuce side. Ummm...with that bh?

Posted by Tfactor

07/04/2009 at 01:43 PM

That was some shot by Nestor!

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:43 PM

Would you believe that bh pick up volley?
This Zimonjic guy is good.

Posted by Pspace

07/04/2009 at 01:44 PM

Zim holds...At 15-15 he made a super s&v...serve to bh...return at feet...volley into corner. N/Z look like a far superior team.

Posted by Mike

07/04/2009 at 01:45 PM

FOT ... as a FedKAD, I obviously want Fed to win ... too.

What I think most of us (and I was one of them) meant by that is that if Andy won ... it would sting less than losing to one of the Top young guys like Rafa, Murray, Nole, etc. ... knowing how long he's fought unsuccessfully against Fed and others to finally get this chance to no longer be a One Slam Wonder.

Sort of the same way that ... if Haas were to have beaten Fed, I would have been 100% behind Tommy to take the whole thing. The ultimate feel good story, I guess. ;)

Posted by NP

07/04/2009 at 01:47 PM

"I can't think of a surface where I wouldn't take Steffi."

Gabby.

Posted by Arun

07/04/2009 at 01:47 PM

Pspace: from what I have seen, for the entire match Bob (the lefty) has been returning from the deuce side and Mike from the ad-side. Mike has been doing considerably well on the return. that's why I posted such a question @ 12:30.

Posted by Tfactor

07/04/2009 at 01:49 PM

Well N/Z are one game from the championship

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:49 PM

Arun, they can choose a side to return from for each set, but they have to stick to that side. Returning side is not dependent on who decides to serve first. and I *think* it's the same rule in a TB. So, no idea why Bob keeps returning first.

Posted by vetmama

07/04/2009 at 01:51 PM

My boyfriend is serving for the title.
Sexy Beast.

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:52 PM

Mladenovic wins the girls doubles title, after losing the singles final. Good for her.

Go N/Z just two more points please. Where have you sent your first serve to?

Posted by Pspace

07/04/2009 at 01:54 PM

Arun, yeah, you can't have one guy returning from both sides. But, usually, in a lefty-righty team, I would imagine that the righty returns from deuce side...because the default serve is the wide serve and you can play with fh. You'd switch it up if one guy has stronger bh or if the opponents prefer T-serves...Don't know what the reasoning is here...I assume they have good reasons...just don't know what they are.

Posted by Sherlock

07/04/2009 at 01:54 PM

NP, I'd still take Steffi. :)

Geez, Zimo with 2 dfs this game. Ouch!

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:54 PM

2nd double. Brother hasn't gotten a first serve in yet. oooh and an ace down the middle!

Posted by vetmama

07/04/2009 at 01:54 PM

Wow, Zimo is a little tight.
2 DF's.
But now we're at match/champ point

Posted by Sherlock

07/04/2009 at 01:55 PM

And then two aces! :)

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:55 PM

Another ACE! You go DEFENDING Champs! :)

Sorry, Bryans supporters.

Posted by Pspace

07/04/2009 at 01:55 PM

Btw, why is Elvis cheering for N/Z?

Posted by Tfactor

07/04/2009 at 01:55 PM

Nenad serves 2DFs and 2 aces to win the championship.
LOL @ the british commentators hoping Zim doesn't take any more items of clothing off

Posted by Arun

07/04/2009 at 01:56 PM

great performance. Congrats N/Z fans..

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:56 PM

Just saw the disco pink silky shirt dude. Who the hell is he?

Posted by vetmama

07/04/2009 at 01:56 PM

Oh well, even though the BB's didn't win, at least it's great to see the Sexy Beast so happy.

yay! wow that is two for two for me today. So happy for Dan and Nenad that they could defend their title. Now, can the Williams Alliance make it three for three? Unfortunately, I will not be able to watch it as I am on my way out to the dentist.

have a good one all.

Posted by Arun

07/04/2009 at 01:57 PM

oh.. Woodies lead in the STB.. coolness.

Posted by NP

07/04/2009 at 01:57 PM

"NP, I'd still take Steffi. :)"

Gabby.

Posted by Arun

07/04/2009 at 01:57 PM

Thanks, gh and Pspace for your answers.

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 01:58 PM

Zimo has won only 2 GS titles. Both of them here at Wimbledon.
Sounds very similar to this Spanish guy I like watching.

Posted by Pspace

07/04/2009 at 01:58 PM

""NP, I'd still take Steffi. :)""

So, Anna K is still available ;-)

Posted by kiwibee

07/04/2009 at 01:58 PM

who is that guy in almost pink shirt?

Posted by avid sports fan aka "Sigh-Rena"

07/04/2009 at 01:59 PM

vetmama - They just showed the replay of the shirt coming off ;-) I managed to catch that now ;-)

Posted by Arun

07/04/2009 at 01:59 PM

what? no trophy presentation yet??

Posted by NP

07/04/2009 at 02:00 PM

"So, Anna K is still available ;-)"

Gabby.

Posted by Sherlock

07/04/2009 at 02:01 PM

Anna K? Pffft. She's all yours, brother. :)

NP, lol. :)

Ok, and NBC does a nice doubles wrap up before switching to golf. Or, er, not.

Posted by Ravi

07/04/2009 at 02:01 PM

All this GaGa over how brilliantly Roddick played in his yesterday Semi-final sounds very trash to me.
Both of them played equally bad ...making silly mistakes , nervous and got no Plan A or B ..to offer.In such matches one of them should scrap through..and the lucky one got the deal.
Lets see ...How Roddick fares tomorrow ..against Federer

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 02:01 PM

Nenad: It's just huge to play in front of the crowd like his. With great champions surrounding me, my partner and the Bryans. I lost to them two years ago, it's great to defend this title here.

CL, FoT, et. al, I am sooooooooooooooo with you on rooting for our Rogi, I hope we get TMF sightings tomorrow, Feddy, go away and stay away! (15 o's, hopefully getting even loooooonger by september!)

(Tim, you earstwhile Fed fanatic, stop the heresy right this second, lest anybody accuse you of being a fair weather fan or something! ;))

Happy July 4th everybody, am off to emulate Kobayashi, the elegant hotdog eater (pffft to chestnut, the pretender)!!

Posted by Sherlock

07/04/2009 at 02:02 PM

Can someone hack in to the computer where this NBC-Wimby contract exists and destroy that thing?

They go so far beyond pathetic.

Posted by creig bryan

07/04/2009 at 02:03 PM

Well, that clinches it. With Bryans losing the Dubs, my foot is off the Andy bus, and I'm climbing into the main cab of the Fed Express.

As for the Williams, well, Venus said it best:

"I have no complaints." Reading between her lines confirms it.

Keep Smiling

Posted by Fot

07/04/2009 at 02:03 PM

To piggy-back on what CL said about how nothing is promised and that injuries can play a big part (which is why I want Roger to win when he can before it's too late)...Here's one answer that Roger said in his interview where he talked about Nadal and his injuries:

Q. A few weeks ago the story was about Nadal winning everything, you struggling a little bit. Then you won Madrid, you won Paris. Now you're about to regain maybe the No. 1. Tennis seems to change fast. What's your reflection on this?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, there's a good side and a bad side, because it's kind of a very important period in tennis, the French Open and Wimbledon stretch.

So if you get injured ‑‑ I think like what Murray got injured as well with his wrist a couple of years ago, and Rafa now a little bit. I don't quite remember now who else got injured ‑‑ but you can lose so many points. Especially him being back‑to‑back champions, Paris and Wimbledon last year, you can't play, you lose four thousand points. It goes like in a hurry. From being invincible, you're all of a sudden No. 2, No. 3 in the world, having to prove yourself.

Other tournaments are looming around the corner which you have to defend again. Does that just mean that he's only the second best, you know, or third best just because he couldn't play? Probably not. He deserves to be all the way up there in the rankings, but somebody has to win the tournament.

All you can do is put yourself in that position, and I did. Of course, I'm very happy. Shouldn't be forgotten what a great player, what a great champion he is. Stories come about very, very quickly in tennis.

At the same time, because they go so quickly, some fade quickly as well. Sometimes it's not fair towards certain players, if you achieved a lot like I did for so many years and then you don't win some tournaments, people say you're already on the decline very quickly.

So that's the way this business works, unfortunately. But I hope it just opens some eyes at least these last few months, because they have been very different maybe to what people expected.

Posted by Nic

07/04/2009 at 02:05 PM

The 2nd half of this quote is tops.

"He’s a funny guy as well. We chat a lot and he’s always making jokes in the locker room. I think it was tough for him since the American press had great expectations of him. After Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and all the rest, I think they didn’t want a top 10 player, they wanted a No.1. I used to tell him that he wasn’t as bad as people were making out. It’s great to see him back up there.”

Posted by Nic

07/04/2009 at 02:05 PM

Well done N/Z!

Posted by greenhopper

07/04/2009 at 02:07 PM

The Spanish guy who is out home fishing, Arun.

So, the top 3 teams in doubles have won a GS title each this year.

Posted by beth

07/04/2009 at 02:08 PM

hi, all and Happy 4th of July !
before I get ready for the celebration, thought I would stop in
I see the guys are still happily debating their hott girl favorites
enjoy , fellas - we ladies seem to monopolize the whose hott conversations , I say you deserve equal time

watched the ladies final - congrats to Serena - but frankly , after the semis against Elena - I found it to be a rather lackluster match . Never really seemed to get going
Serena's serve was totally dominating - and I am left with nothing but awe for Elena D and how well she returned that serve , even in defeat.
I don't have a sister, so I can only imagine how hard it is to play for such a big title against someone you grew up with - so I won't really blame the girls for this difficult situation
still , as a spectator , I have seen much better matches than the one today.

I hope the Roddibago is gassed up and ready to rock tomorrow - in spite of all the odds against him , I am hoping that Andy can bring another match like he played yesterday - I will be so thrilled if he wins - come on , Andy !

Posted by Ayerta

07/04/2009 at 02:08 PM

Did anyone notice that "Abigail Lorge" (Editors Picks) was the only one who predicted a Fed-Roddick final. Wow! Kudos to you Abigail and hope your predicted winner comes out on top! Serena already did, so hopefully thats a good omen.

Bryans and N/Z are 63/3 and 121/29 on the winners/UEs respectively - unbelievable.

Posted by just a note

07/04/2009 at 02:09 PM

ESPN2 is showing "Sports Center at Wimbledon" now. Don't know what they'll cover but it's a little more tennis anyhow;)).

Sorry for B/B and congrats to N/Z!! I reeealy don't like it when the trophy presentation and speeches aren't shown;((. It's their moment!!!

Posted by Nic

07/04/2009 at 02:13 PM

One of the Woodies has said of the supertiebreak system, that if it had been introduced when they were playing they would not have faired as well because they needed time to work their way into matches. - Just thought I'd throw that in.